Clipper



March 15, 1955 P. K. BRIDENBAUGH CLIPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

March 15, 1955 P. K. BRIDENBAUGH CLIPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1954 INVENTOR. 42 622,562 u fi K, L u m United States Patent D CLIPPER Paul K. Bridenbaugh, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Supreme Products, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 13, 1954, Serial No. 429,535

14 Claims. (Cl. 30-216) This invention relates to a clipper and more particullarlg to a hair clipper structure having a removable It is desirable in hair clipper structures to provide a removable head for then a single clipper structure can be used in giving a rough or fine out, etc.; that is, a clipper head is equipped with shears which are designed to cut hair either coarsely or finely. Since one portion of the head provides one blade of the shears, it is impractical to attempt to alter the character of the head to provide diflferent types of cuts; therefore, it is the practice to provide a plurality of heads that can be interchangeably mounted upon a single clipper body. For the most part, while workable, known means for releasably mounting the head upon the body of a clipper structure have not been entirely satisfactory, and there has long been a need for improved means whereby the head of a clipper can be removably secured to the body thereof.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a hair clipper structure or the like with a removable head that is quickly and easily removed and replaced with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a hair clipper structure having a removable head, means for positively locking the head in correct operative position while permitting the head to be mounted and removed with a simple snap action.

Still another object is in the provision of a structure having a body and removable head; the head having bayonet blades receivable in channels provided by the body; spring means being employed to positively and correctly position the blade within the channels and to anchor them in such position, but being yieldable to release the blades when a force of proper direction is applied to the head.

Yet a further object is to provide in a hair clipper structure of this character bayonet blades having a cam along the upper edges thereof, a recess along the lower edges thereof and longitudinally extending grooves at the ends thereof; channels having an arcuate leaf spring projecting thereinto through the bottom thereof, and detent equipped spring tongues providing wall portions therefor; the leaf spring furnishing a yieldable fulcrum cooperating with the cams in snapping the blades in place within the channels while the leaf spring and spring tongues cooperate to lock the blades in position-both being yieldable to permit ready release of the blades.

Yet a further object is to provide means for releasably securing the shear head upon the body of a hair clipper structure, the means being of such character that when the head is in position there is substantially no vibration thereof relative to the body whereby the operation of the clipper is equally as good as ones having a shear head permanently affixed to the body thereof.

Additional objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a clipper structure embodying the invention and showing the head in position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan face view of a clipper head;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, broken sectional view showing the means for securing the removable shear head to the clipper body;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side view in elevation of a clipper structure embodying the invention and with portions broken away to show the means for mounting the head upon the clipper body;

Fig. 8 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the clipper structure showing the head removed from the body; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the primary elements employed in providing a releasable mounting for a clipper head and in which these elements are shown in spacedapart relation.

Reference will be made first, in particular, to Fig. 1 which illustrates an entire clipper structure. The clipper is designated generally with the letter A and has a body portion 10 and a shear head 11. The body 10 is formed by a casing 12 providing a compartment 13 in the interior thereof and in which is mounted a frame member 14 that is generally U-shaped and which is shown best in Fig. 9. The frame 14 provides a mounting for a motor 15 that provides the customary shaft which is connected to a gear train mounted within the gear housing 16 which is also carried by the frame 14. A cord 17 extending through the rear end portion of the casing 12 carries electric power to the motor 15. If desired, the casing 12 may be equipped with a louvered opening 18 which provides a vent for the compartment 13. The structure thus far described is conventional and well known in the art. It is believed, therefore, that a further description in detail of the elements comprising this portion of the clipper structure A need not be described in further detail.

It can be seen best in Fig. 2 that a drive shaft 19 extends outwardly from the forward wall of the gear housing 16 and is rotatably driven by the gear train therein which, in turn, is operatively arranged with the armature shaft of the motor 15. Eccentrically mounted upon the shaft 19 is a cylindrical drive member 20 which is preferably formed of plastic such as nylon. As is well known, when the shaft 19 is rotated the cylindrical drive member 20 will subscribe an eccentric circle and will be operative to reciprocate one of the shear blades provided by the head member 11.

The shear head 11, as seen in Fig. 3, comprises a base plate 21 having at the forward end thereof a plurality of shear teeth 22. Slidably mounted on the inner surface of the plate 21 is the reciprocating shear blade 23. The blade 23 provides a plurality of recessed teeth 24 that cooperate with the teeth 22 provided by the plate 21 in severing or cutting hair. The shear blade 23 is confined in position upon the plate 21 by the clip 25 which is rigidly secured to the plate 21 by the cap screws 26. The reciprocating shear blade 23 is provided with a winged drive member 27 which provides a recess 28 between the spread legs thereof which is adapted to receive the cylindrical drive member 20 therein. Eccentric rotation of the drive member 20 is operative to push the member 27 from one side to the other along the plate 21 and thereby reciprocate the movable blade 23 to which it is rigidly secured.

Also rigidly secured to the plate member 21 of the shear head 11 is a generally U-shaped connector member 29 that can be seen best in Fig. 9. The connector member 29 provides a base 30 having apertures 31 therein which are adapted to receive the cap screws 26 in securing the member 29 rigidly to the plate 21. The connector member provides two spaced-apart legs or bayonet fingers 32. As is seen best in Fig. 4, the bayonet fingers 32 project laterally from the plate 21 and have a tapered end portion 33 equipped along the outer surface thereof with a longitudinally extending groove or recess 34. The upper edge of the fingers 32, because of the inclined end portions 33 thereof, provide a cam member designated generally with the numeral 35. Each of the fingers has a cutaway portion along the bottom edge 36 thereof, to provide the recess or locking notch 37. It will be apparent that each of the fingers 32 is constructed in the same manner.

The body portion 10 of the clipper A, and more specifically the gear housing 16 therein, provides a pair of spaced-apart channels that are designated generally with the numeral 38 and which are adapted to provide sockets for slidably receiving the bayonet fingers 32 therein. Each of the channels 38 is defined in part by a relatively flat upper edge or surface 39 and similarly a relatively fiat lower edge or surface 40.

When the shear head 11 is properly positioned upon the clipper body 10, the bayonet fingers 32 will be positioned in the channels 38 as is shown in Fig. 4.

The outer walls of the channels 38 are defined by the legs 41 of the frame member 14. It can be seen best in Figs. and 9 that the legs 41 are provided adjacent the ends thereof with spaced apart slots 42 that form therebetween the spring tongues 43 each of which is equipped with an inwardly-extending detent 44. The detents 44 are adapted to be received within the grooves 34 as will be described hereinafter, it being preferred as shown in Fig. 5 that the detent 44 and the groove 34 are offset just enough that the detent 44 rides upon the side of the groove so that each blade is held in a solid position in the lower inside corner of the channel 38 against the bottom wall 40.

As is seen best in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, an arcuate leaf spring 45 is positioned adjacent the forward or mouth end of the channels 38. Actually only the end portions of the leaf spring 45 are arcuate, and the central portion 46 thereof is relatively flat and is rigidly secured to the gear housing 16 by means of a cap screw 47 which extends through the central portion of the spring and is threadedly received within the housing 16. The arcuate end portions of the leaf spring, as is clear from the showing of Fig. 4, are received within the recesses 37 provided by the bayonet fingers 32 when the fingers are inserted into the channels 38.

If desired, the gear housing 16 may be equipped with forwardly-extending guide members 48 (seen best in Fig. 2) which extend outwardly and longitudinally of the channels 38, and a transverse guide member 49 (illustrated most clearly in Fig. 1) may also be provided. The guide members 48 and 49 are operative to facilitate insertion of the fingers 32 into the mouths of the channels 38. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7 in particular, the clipper A may be equipped with a switch member 50 which can be shifted from one side to the other of the casing 12 to break and establish the electric circuit to the motor 15.

Operations In operation of the structure, the condition shown in Fig. 8 may first be assumed, wherein the shear head 11 is removed from the body 10 of the clipper. The head 11 is grasped in the hand so that the fingers 32 and particularly the inclined end portions 33 thereof are directed toward the guide members 48 and 49 and into the mouths of the channels 38. In this position the upper edge of the inclined end portions 33 is substantially parallel with the upper edge 39 provided about the channel members 38. The head 11 is then pushed toward the body 10 and the fingers 32 are received within the channel members 38 as shown in Fig. 7. In this position, the upper edge of the inclined end portions 33 of the fingers abuts the edge 39 provided by the channels and the arcuate end portions of the spring member 45 are just entering the recesses 37 provided by the fingers 32. This movement is continued until the head 11 can be pressed no further toward the body 10. At this limit, the arcuate portions of the leaf spring 45 will be substantially within the recesses 37.

At this time the shear head 11 is inclined relative to the forward wall of the body 10, and the shear edges 22 and 24 are spaced from the casing member 12. The next operation is to press against the upper edge portion of the plate 21 or the shear edges 22 and 24, and when sufiicient force is applied the head 11 will snap in place and will be positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1. To remove the head 11, exactly the reverse steps are taken. First the head is grasped adjacent the shear edges 22 and 24 thereof and is snapped downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7. Next the head 11 is pulled outwardly from the body 10 and the fingers 32 slide freely from the channel members 38.

When inserting the fingers 32 into the channels 38, the leaf spring 45 provides a yieldable fulcrum that cooperates with the cam surface along the upper edge of the fingers 32. When the head is snapped from the position shown in Fig. 7 and into the position shown in Fig. 1,

the cam surfaces of the fingers 32 permit the fingers to be pivoted or rotated slightly about the yieldable spring fulcrums 45. In the downward movement of the inclined end portions 33 of the fingers 32, the spring tongues 43 yield outwardly slightly and the detents 44 eventually snap into place within the grooves 34 to the position already described. At this time, the lower edge 36 and upper edge 39 are in substantial abutment respectively with the lower edge 40 provided by the channel and the upper edge or cam surface 35 provided by the finger. The resilient force provided by the leaf spring 45 presses upwardly against the fingers 32 and positively positions and locks the same in the position shown in Fig. 4. The detents 44 and the grooves 34 tend to prevent further pivotal movement of the fingers 32 about the leaf spring 45 and the leaf spring itself presses longitudinally against the fingers and tends to prevent axial outward movement thereof from the channels 38.

In the insertion movement, the leaf spring 45 because of the arcuate end portions thereof and because these arcuate portions bear against the walls of the recess 37 tend to cam or urge the fingers 32 inwardly within the channels 38 and thereby to properly and positively position the head 11 upon the body 10. When the head is removed,

' a downward force is applied against the biasing action of the spring 45 and the spring yields slightly and again cooperates with the cam surface 35 of each of the fingers 32 and permits the fingers to be easily pivoted upwardly and again into the position shown best in Fig. 7. Thereafter substantially no force is required to withdraw the fingers 32 from the channel members 38.

When the head is in position, it is positively anchored to the body 10 of the clipper and the relatively rigid mounting provided by the leaf spring 45 and spring tongues 43 and the detents 44 provided thereby result in a mounting that is substantially equivalent to a permanent mounting of a head 11 upon a body 10. Thus there is no vibration of the head 11 relative to the body 10 which, of course, would result in inconvenience and impede etficient use of the clipper.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set out in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in the details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a clipper of the character described, a body member and a removable head therefor, said body member having at least one channel and said head having a finger receivable longitudinally in that channel and being substantially narrower than the channel at the inner end thereof, said finger being provided with a recess in an edge thereof extending longitudinally of said finger, detent means in said channel releasably engaging said finger in a predetermined position thereof in said channel, and a spring member adjacent said channel and receivable in said recess for positioning said finger in said predetermined position within said channel, said detent means being displaced to engage and disengage in said recess upon lateral movement of the finger from one side of the channel to the other at its narrow end.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said finger extends laterally from said head and said recess is adjacent said head.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said finger and said channel are provided with complementary surfaces engageable with each other when said blade is within said channel, said spring member being oriented to press said complementary surfaces together when the finger is within the channel.

4. In a clipper structure of the character described, a body equipped with an elongated channel, a removable head providing an elongated finger slidably receivable within said channel, said finger having a cam surface along the upper edge thereof and an inclined end portion, releasable means interconnecting said finger and body for holding said end portion in a predetermined position in said channel, said finger having also a recess along the bottom edge thereof, and a spring member receivable within said recess and mounted adjacent the mouth of said channel, said spring member intersecting said channel in an operative combination with said cam surface to positively position and anchor said blade within said channel.

5. In a clipper structure, a body member provided with a channel, a head equipped with a finger slidably receivable within said channel, said finger being provided adjacent the inner end thereof with a longitudinally extending groove in its side wall, said channel being partially defined by a spring tongue wall member equipped with a detent receivable within said groove, and spring means for restricting longitudinal movement of said blade within said channel when said detent is within said groove.

6. The structure of claim in which said finger is equipped along an edge thereof with a cam surface, said cam surface being operative with a wall of said channel for pivoting the inner end of said finger relative to said spring tongue until said detent is received within said groove.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said spring means comprises a leaf spring mounted adjacent the mouth of said channel and positioned to bear against said finger.

8. In a clipper structure equipped with a removable head, and a body member providing a mounting for said head, means for releasably securing said head upon said body comprising an elongated finger rigidly secured to said head and projecting laterally therefrom, said finger having a narrowed end portion with an inclined upper edge forming a cam surface along that edge of the finger, the narrowed end portion of said finger being equipped in a wall thereof with a longitudinally extending groove, said body providing an elongated channel adapted to slidably receive said finger therein, said channel having an upper surface adapted to cooperate with the cam surface of said finger, a leaf spring carried by said body adjacent the mouth of said channel and at the lower edge thereof, said finger having a recess along the bottom edge thereof adapted to receive said leaf spring therein, and a spring tongue member equipped with a detent adapted to be received within said groove, said detent and groove and said leaf spring and recess being operative to positively position said finger within said channel and to anchor the same in the channel.

9. In a clipper structure having a body and a removable head, a pair of spaced apart fingers rigidly secured to said head and extending laterally therefrom in substantially parallel relation, said body providing a pair of spaced apart channels alignable with said fingers and adapted to slidably receive the same therein, each of said channels having along a wall thereof a spring tongue equipped with a detent, said body being equipped with an elongated spring member providing end portions aligned with said channels and adjacent the mouth thereof, said fingers having adjacent the end portions thereof grooves adapted to receive said detents therein and having also adjacent said head recesses adapted to receive said spring member therein.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which the end portion of said fingers is narrowed and in which each of said fingers is provided with a cam surface along the upper edge thereof, said cam surface being eugageable with a wall of said recess, and said spring member providing a yieldable pivot cooperating with said cam surface in pivoting said fingers within said channels to securely position and lock the same therein.

11. The structure of claim 10 in which the end portions of said spring member are arcuate.

12. The structure of claim 10 in which said fingers are provided by a generally U-shaped locking member rigidly secured to said head.

13. The structure of claim 12 in which said body is equipped with longitudinally extending and transversely extending guide members adjacent the mouths of said channels.

14. The structure of claim 12 in which said channel members are defined by a gear housing and a frame member that provides a mounting therefor and which is carried by said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,614 Dremel June 17, 1930 1,810,469 Dremel June 16, 1931 2,098,180 Dilks Nov. 2, 1937 2,184,781 Ryan Dec. 26, 1939 

